Multiple-fuse device.



' G. S. SHOUPB & W. H. PALMER MULTIPLE FUSE DEVICE.

IfPLIOATION FILED DEC. 20, 1912.

1,081,160, I Patented Dec. 9,1913.

6 3 G 5 shgonucuto'c Q07: 6 ape wunemo yu-c by means of which a burned out or mutiple fuse device or thermal cut-out wherein UNITED STATES PiAlENT @FFIE.

MULTIPLE-FUSE DEVICE.

Application filed December 20. 1512.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9,1913.

Serial No. 787,890.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that We, Gnonen S. Snonrn and lVJLLTAM H. PALMER, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in lllultiple-l use Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in thermal cut-outs or tastes for use in conjuno tion with electric circuits and has particular application to nmltiplefuse devices.

In carrying out he present invention, it our purpose to provide a multiple fuse delated il'use caused by an overcharge or relatively high tension current due to lightning, short. cireuiting and the like wih be automatically replaced so that the electric continuity of the circuit in which the device is installed will be maintained without the necessity and expense of manual labor.

It is also our purpose to provide a multiby means of a plurality of fusible elements and a contact adapted for sliding; movement. the fuses may be placed in the circuit, in which the device is installed, successively as the same become burned out or otherwise mutilated.

Furthermore, we aim to provide a device of the class described which will. embrace the desired features of simplicity, elliciency, durability and convenience coupled with cheapness of cost in. manufacture and marlteting and which may be readily installed or connected in an electric circuit.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement-of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

in the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple thermal cut-out or fuse device constructed in accordance with our present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device. 3 a cross sectional view therethrougln big. t is a fragmentary top. plan View of the cut-out or fuse device.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the numeral 1 designates the body of the device which,-in the present instance, is composed of insulating material and is of substantially T-shape in cross section.

i, indicate the end pieces which are fastened by means of screws or the like to the opposite ends oli'the body 1 to forma support by means of which stability or rigidity is imparted to the device when the latter is secured to a suitable or convenient object or sug'iport.

In the eu'ibodiment of our invention selectcd for illustrative purposes, a common terminal plate 53 of substantially U-shape is secured to one end of the base portion of the "l' sli'aped body and has the opposite limbs thereof embracing the adjacent side portions of such base and lorn'led with threaded apcrtales in which are disposed binding screws l. Secured to each binding sr'rmvat each side of the base portion of the T-shaped bod} is one end ol a fusible element or wire 5 which extends longitudinally oi the ad Jacent side of the base portion of the body below the head thereof. while the opposite side edges'of the head portion of the T- shaped body are lormed \vitlrrecesses or cavities (3, the cavities in one Side edge of the head beinastaggered relatively to or alternating with those at the opposite Side cdtac and pivotally mounted within each iavity is a trip lever T composed of a suitable meta capable of conducting; an electric current with a minimum of resistance. One end of each trip lever T is equipped with a binding screw by means ol which the lrec end of one of the Fuse wires is connected to the respective trip lever, while the opposite ends of such levers extend above the top surface of the head oi the body.

in the present "l'orm of our iuvmlition, a rod 9 has the opposite ends thereofflsecured to the end pieces 2, .2 ol the device and is disposed longitudinally of the body 1 in a plane above the head thereof at approximately the longitudinal median line of such head'and mounted upon this'rod is a contact 10 adapted for sliding movement along the rod and eon'iposed, in the present instance, of a substantially U-shaped body of insulating material it having an aperture .t'ormed in the intorcimuootingr member thereof tl'irough which the rod 9 is passed, while the free extremities of the opposite limbs thereof carry a-metallic contact plate 12 formed with oppositely disposed laterally projecting lugs 13, 18 adapted, in the sliding movement of the contact 10 to engage the upper extremities of the trip lovers 7 successively, that is, to say, as the fuses become burned out. In order to force the sliding contact along the rod as the fuses burn out, any suitable means may be employed. In this instance, an expansion spring 14 encircles the rod 9 and has one end bearing against the adjacent wall of the interconnecting portion of the body 11 ot the contact 10, while the opposite end thereof abuts the adjacent end piece 2.

Extending through one of the end pieces 2 and in contact with the common terminal plate 3 is a terminal or binding post 15, while passed through the opposite end piece 2 is a binding post 16 to which is fastened one end of the wire forming the spring 1 1, the opposite end of the wire forming such spring being fastened to the metallic con tact plate 12 of the contact 10 as at 17.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing our invention will be readily apparent. Assuming the several fusible elements to be intact, the initial position of the contact 10 is such that one of the lugs 18 is in engagement with the respective end of the adjacent trip lever 7, as clearly illustrated in Fig. lot the drawing. In this position of the sliding contact, the spring 14 is under its greatest tension and tends to urge or force the sliding contact along the rod. With the sliding contact in the position described and shown in Fig. 1'

of the drawing, and the device installed in an electric circuit, current will flow from one of the binding or terminal posts, for example, the post 16, through the coiled spring 14, metallic contact plate 12, the respective lug 13, the trip lever 7 in engagement with such lug, the particular fuse wire 5, the common terminal plate 3 and thence through the remaining binding post 15. Should the active or energized fuse wire become disrupted, incident to an overcharge or relatively high tension current caused by lightening, short circuiting or otherwise, the trip lever will be relieved of the influence of such fusible element and permitted to swing about its pivot thereby enabling the spring 14 to act and slide the contact 10 along the rod until the other lug 13 engages the following trip lever at the opposite side of the head of the T-shaped body, the sliding contact engaging the trip levers at the opposite sides of the head of the body alternately incident to such trip levers being staggered relatively to one another, as aforesaid. Thus, the circuit is reestablished automaticall and without necessitatin an manual labor. Should the second fusible element burn out, the sliding contact will again move under the action of the spring and engage the next trip lever. By means of this construction, it will be seen that the fuses will be placed in the circuit successively, or as the same become burned out or mutilated.

Different means may be employed to hold the sliding contact against movement under the action of its spring when the device is being refused or the fuses renewed. In the present instance, a catch 18 is pivoted between its ends within a slot 19 formed in the end piece 2 of the device adjacent to the expansion spring, such catch being adapted to be swung into engagement with one of the lugs 13 to hold the sliding contact against movement.

It will be understood that as many trip levers and fuses as desired may be employed in order that the range or capacity of our invention may be varied and while we have herein shown and described one particular form of our invention by wa of illustration we desire to have it unt erstood that we do not limit or confine ourselves to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVe claim:

1. In a multiple fuse device, a body, fusible elements disposed at the opposite sides of said body, a binding post common I .to said fusible elements, a contact, means holding said contact for sliding movement, a second binding post, electrical connections between said last-named post and sliding contact, trip levers pivoted to the opposite sides of said body and staggered relatively to one another and each having one end connected to the free end of one of said fusible elements, and the opposite end disposed in the path of movement of said contact whereby the fusible elements may be placed in circuit successively as the same be come burned out or mutilated, and means for sliding said contacts.

2. In a multiple fuse device, a body of substantially T-shape in cross section, end pieces fastened to the opposite extremities of saidbody, a plurality of fusible elements disposed at the opposite sides of the body, a terminal common to said fusible elements, a rod connected to said end pieces and disposed longitudinally of said body in a plane above the head thereof, a contact carried by said rod and adapted for sliding movementthereon, a second binding post, connections between said last post-and sliding contact, trip levers pivotally connected to the opposite side edges of the head of aid T-shaped body and staggered relative y to one another, and each having one end con- Iiect to the free end of one of the fuslble In testimony whereof We affix Our Signatures 1n presence of two wltnesses.

GEORGE S. SHOUPE. \VILLIAM H. PALMER.

SVitnesses A. B. CALHOUN, JOSEPH O. RITCHEY. 

